On First Looking into Chapman's Homer

Context

• Written in October 1816.

• Significant as Keats had just begun to establish his poetic voice.

• Written after Keats read George Chapman's translation of Homer, which profoundly impacted him.

• Charles Clark read Keats Chapman's translation of Homer, Keats went home and wrote a sonnet on his first impressions which he then presented to Charles the morning after.

  

• George Chapman translated both the Iliad and Odyssey into English which were first published together in 1616

• Reflects Keats' reverence for classical literature and its influence on his development as a poet.

  • Shows his sense of discovery and awe upon encountering great works of literature.

• At this time, Keats was transitioning from a medical career to a full commitment to poetry, marking a pivotal moment in his life.

Structure and Form

• Petrarchan Sonnet.
• Rhyme scheme: ABBAABBA CDCDCD.
• Written in iambic pentameter.
• The octave sets up the situation and context of Keats' literary journey.
• The sestet presents the emotional and intellectual impact of discovering Chapman's Homer.
• The use of enjambment enhances the flow and continuity of his revelations.

Key Themes

Discovery and Exploration

• "Then felt I like some watcher of the skies / When a new planet swims into his ken;"
• Compares the revelation of reading Chapman's Homer to an astronomical discovery.
• Emphasizes the sense of wonder and intellectual excitement.

Literary Reverence

• "Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne;"
• Acknowledges the legendary status of Homer and his influence on literature.
• Reflects Keats' deep respect for classical works.

Transformative Experience

• "Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:"
• Highlights the profound impact of encountering Homer through Chapman's translation.
• Suggests a transformative moment of clarity and insight.

Intellectual Aspiration

• "Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold,"
• Metaphorically describes Keats' literary exploration and quest for knowledge.
• This reflects his aspiration to engage deeply with great literary works.

Romantic Idealization

• "Silent, upon a peak in Darien."
• Uses historical and geographical imagery to convey a moment of profound realization and awe.
• Reflects the Romantic ideal of the sublime and the sense of standing on the brink of a new understanding.

Similar Poems

• "On the Sea": Both poems celebrate the power of literary and natural discovery, using vivid imagery to convey profound experiences.
• "When I have Fears that I may cease to be": Reflects Keats' fears and aspirations related to his poetic career and the impact of literature.
• "Bright Star! Would I were steadfast as thou art": Shares themes of awe and aspiration, highlighting Keats' reverence for beauty and constancy in nature and literature.

Line by Line Analysis

Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold, And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; Round many western islands have I been Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. Oft of one wide expanse had I been told That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne; Yet did I never breathe its pure serene Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: Then felt I like some watcher of the skies When a new planet swims into his ken; Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes He star'd at the Pacific—and all his men Look'd at each other with a wild surmise— Silent, upon a peak in Darien.

"Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold,"

• The metaphor of "realms of gold" represents the rich and valuable experiences gained through reading and literature.
• Suggests a journey through classical works, emphasizing the wealth of knowledge and beauty found therein.

"And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;"

• Continues the metaphor of travel, comparing literary exploration to visiting diverse and majestic places.
• Implies a breadth of experience and exposure to various literary traditions and cultures.

"Round many western islands have I been"

• "Western islands" likely refers to the classical works of Western literature.
• Suggests an extensive exploration of literary landscapes.

"Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold."

• References Apollo, the Greek god of poetry, reinforcing the classical theme.
• Indicates that these literary works are revered and maintained by poets devoted to the muse of poetry.
• The end stop suggests a completion of the first idea.

"Oft of one wide expanse had I been told"

• Introduces the legendary status of Homer's works, which Keats had heard about but not yet experienced.
• "Wide expanse" emphasizes the vast influence and scope of Homer's poetry.
• Endless possibilities of literature.

"That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne;"

• "Deep-brow'd" suggests wisdom and gravitas associated with Homer.
• "deep-brow'd Homer ruled" is an epithet paying homage to Homer
  • An epithet is a descriptive phrase or adjective used to characterize a person, place, or thing, often highlighting a particular quality or attribute.
• Keats praises Homer as a monarch and a king: who "ruled"
• "Demesne" denotes territory or domain, reinforcing Homer's authoritative presence in literature.

"Yet did I never breathe its pure serene"

• "Pure serene" conveys the clarity and purity of Homeric poetry.
• Assonance in this line contributes to the praise of Homer.
• Highlights the transformative power of actually engaging with Homer's work, as opposed to merely hearing about it.

"Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:"

• This marks the turning point where Keats discovers Chapman's translation.
• "Loud and bold" suggests the powerful impact of Chapman's rendition, making Homer accessible and vivid.
• Volta in the poem, where the perspective changes to the impact that reading Homer has had on Keats

"Then felt I like some watcher of the skies"

• Simile comparing Keats to an astronomer discovering a new celestial body.
• Emphasizes the awe and wonder of literary discovery.

"When a new planet swims into his ken;"

• "Swims into his ken" evokes the slow, majestic appearance of a new planet.
• Reflects the gradual, profound realization of Homer's greatness through Chapman.

"Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes"

• Simile comparing Keats' discovery to that of the explorer Cortez seeing the Pacific for the first time.
  • Both similes imply an individual discovering something new.
• "Eagle eyes" denotes sharp vision and the ability to perceive greatness.

"He star'd at the Pacific—and all his men"

• Describes Cortez's awe and the collective wonder of his crew.
• Draws a parallel to Keats' sense of marvel and shared human experience of discovery.

"Look'd at each other with a wild surmise—"

• "Wild surmise" captures the astonishment and excitement of discovering something immense and previously unknown.
• Reflects Keats' emotional response to Chapman's translation.

"Silent, upon a peak in Darien."

• "Silent" underscores the speechlessness that often accompanies profound experiences.
  • Awe-struck links to the idea of Nature and the Sublime in Romanticism.
• The use of the caesura after "Silent" emphasises the last line.
• "Peak in Darien" references the vantage point of discovery, symbolizing a moment of realization and new understanding.